14' Arkansas Traveler redo

[Kellyfmtx]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

Hit the auto parts store in the town nearest you...look for Duplicolor self-etching primer (green top) in rattle cans. Not too spendy.

 

[Kellyfmtx]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

Thank you for this info. I was starting to worry. I didn't realize there was so many kinds of this stuff. How many cans do you think an almost 15ft boat like mine would need?

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

My guess is 3-4 cans. Read the label for ideal use conditions. Once you start spraying, keep moving...trick is to get coverage in 2 coats, not one heavy coat. I move/wave the can side to side on the first pass...let it dry and switch to up/down or diagonal on second pass. Practice some before you do the boat. Helps if you can work inside with excellent ventilation. Outside is dicey...humidity, wind, etc. affect how it goes.

 

[Kellyfmtx]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

I bought four cans of that other primer, but thought I might be overdoing it. I thought it was cheap enough that Id rather have a little too much, than not enough. Thanks for the estimate on the primer, and what ya think about it. I sure appreciate it.

 

[Kellyfmtx]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo


Well here is how far I got today. Slow work for sure.

 

[Kellyfmtx]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo


Just about done on the bottom of the boat where the white was. You can click on the pic, and it will take you to the boat photo album, and the pic will enlarge too.

 

[Kellyfmtx]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

I bought self primer in a spray can. I am not quite ready to use it. I read on the can where it said to wet sand with 400 grit sand paper. That just sounds like a lot of extra work. Do you think it is necessary for a aluminum boat? I have used 100 grit so far. I had planned to go with a much finer grit...but 400 grit sounds awfully light.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

If you're using the self-etching primer in a rattle can, it's more important to have all the loose stuff off before priming than working it way down progressively with finer-grit paper. Try to get a level surface all over, then wash it down really well, rinse, air dry and blow the surface clean with compressed air if that is available. You want it clean enough that you can run your hand over it when it's dry and not get any chalky residue on your hand. That's why it is definitely slow work. Prep is the biggest part of painting anything.

 

[Kellyfmtx]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

I agree the prep is key, and it is very slow. So far I've only done the white part. Things keep coming up to keep me from getting it further. Anyway, what you said is about what I had thought...but after reading that can it made me a little worried. I bought some vinegar thinking it would be wiped down before the painting. Now I am getting the self etching primer it is not necessary. I wonder if I should add the vinegar after washing it off with water, and before the primer is added? Would that help, or just be a wasted step? I bought five rattle cans of self etching primer, I hope I have enough. Thanks again for all the advise here.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

50:50 vinegar/water mix is good for a final cleaning. Then wipe it dry with a tack/lint free rag and put the primer on.

 

[Kellyfmtx]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

Alrighty, thanks so much.

 

[Kellyfmtx]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

I had a friend tell me I needed to put Valspar on thinned(and spray it on), to protect the paint once I get that done on my boat. I am still sanding. I used self etching primer on the bottom of the outside so far, but not the top of the outside of the boat yet...still working on that. Has anyone heard of using this, and would it be worth the money and time to put it on after I fishing painting? It is a marine varnish. I have never heard of it, but then again, I have never had to paint a boat before either. Any ideas, please post 'em.

He used Valspar to coat his home made bamboo fly rods.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

Never heard of using a wood varnish on aluminum to protect the paint job. Seems like it would rub or otherwise wear off just like the paint itself, but then I don't mess with bamboo fly rods. Guess you could apply a coat or two of clear coat paint in the rattle can if you wanted to, just to make it look shiney. If you aren't concerned with normal wear and tear rub marks, etc., on your boat after the paint job, why spend any more on the Valspar? Seems like that would make it harder to touch up any nicks, etc., if you wanted/needed to. Maybe someone else will chime in with another opinion/idea soon.

 

[Kellyfmtx]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

I think you may be right about touch ups. It is an marine varnish. I would like to protect the hull of the boat from scratches as much as I can, but don't want to go to a lot of more time/money in doing so. He says you just thin it, and spray it. If I put a clear coat on it, I didn't think it would protect it much more. I don't ever want to put anything on that would yellow with age, because this is probably the only paint job I will ever do on this boat. I might touch up a bad spot, but hope to keep the paint looking good by waxing it....at least on the exterior.

 

[Kellyfmtx]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

Hit the auto parts store in the town nearest you...look for Duplicolor self-etching primer (green top) in rattle cans. Not too spendy.

That is exactly the stuff I bought. Thanks for recommending it. I used some of it already on the hull already. I was told to wet sand after priming it with a 400 grit, but I wonder if a 320 would be better if I wet sand it. That is something I will have to find out. I am still working on the green area on the top exterior of the boat...whew...what a job.

 

[Kellyfmtx]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo



The end of the day today. There are other photos though in the boat album.
Just click on the pic, and it will take you to the Photobucket. From there just click the boat album to see more photos if you would like to.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

That's lookin good...you're on the right track.

 

[Kellyfmtx]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo

Thank you! Here is what the boat looked like this morning. I am FINALLY ready to finish with primer on the rest of the exterior of the boat. I am ready to flip the boat over asap, my back can't stand much more of the leaning over. It has been wet sanded with 400 grit sandpaper, and it is all ready for me to hit it with some self etching primer. Just think, I thought I'd be done with this in two weeks, definitely not more than three...ROTFL.

 

[Kellyfmtx]

Re: 14' Arkansas Traveler redo



Well I finally finished with spraying primer on the exterior today. I guess I used close to 8.5 cans of self etching primer. At least half must of blown away in the wind. After this I am going to get the boat flipped over, and start on the interior.